Former Auburn basketball player files racial discrimination suit against university

Cameron Boozer, a former college basketball player at Auburn University and Troy University, filed a racial discrimination suit against Auburn, where he’s worked in the campus safety and security department since October of 2008.

Cameron Boozer, a former college basketball player at Auburn University and Troy University, filed a racial discrimination suit against Auburn, where he’s worked in the campus safety and security department since October of 2008.

The claim was filed Monday in the Eastern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. Boozer alleges that his boss Chance Corbett, interim executive director of Auburn's campus safety and security department, passed him over for a promotion due to Corbett, who is also named as a plaintiff in the complaint, being “much more comfortable with Caucasian employees around him than black employees in higher level positions.”

Boozer, who is still employed in his current position at Auburn, is the second employee of Auburn’s campus safety and security department to file a racial discriminatory suit against the university and Corbett. Regina Hutchinson, an administrative support specialist, filed her complaint last month. Hutchinson has remained in her position at Auburn as well. Both Boozer and Hutchinson are being represented by Montgomery-based attorney Jullian McPhillips.

“I was denied due to my race a promotion to associate director,” Boozer said in a statement at a news conference conducted at McPhillips’ law office in Montgomery. “Nothing more. I find it unbelievable that I’m good enough to run the department for all these years but not good enough to receive the pay and promotion.”

When reached by the Montgomery Advertiser, an Auburn University spokesperson released a statement but declined further comment on the matter due to the school’s internal policy to discuss any pending litigation.

“Auburn University will defend this matter in court and will not otherwise comment on pending litigation," the statement reads.

Boozer played three seasons at Auburn from 1990-93 before transferring to Troy University, where he averaged 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his final two years of eligibility.